The Reader by Traci Chee is an engaging, mystical, intriguing and somewhat frustrating book.  I loved the story's premise, that reading itself is outlawed, or rather not many have the ability to read.

Those that can read also have magical powers, and some can "read" others or read/see the future, including our main protagonist, Sefia.

She is joined by a wonderful cast of characters including Archer and Captain Reed.  Archer and Sefia are mostly on the run in this novel; being chased and chasing others is huge part of the plot.

The nature of stories themselves is a theme, and there is fun scene in a bar where people pretend to be other people telling stories about those people as if they had lived them.  Captain Reed insight-fully states only he can tell his story, but what is the nature of stories and reading then, this reader asked herself.

There is quite a bit of violence and death in the story, and the desire to make one's mark is part of this.  Is it our nature to make our mark violently? To be a hero/heroine?

Essentially, Sefia has a book that has been hidden, and in the beginning she isn't even aware it is a book or what a book is.  As she discovers its powers, and learns to read, she sets out to find out who killed her parents, kidnapped her aunt, harmed Archer, and ultimately who is good, or evil.

This is the first of I believe a trilogy.  I will look for the second, to hopefully clear up some frustrating and perhaps conflicting story-lines. (21)

2017: A New School = A 40 Book Challenge

It has been quite some time since I posted anything here.  All of 2016 pretty much!

My new school has put up a 40 book challenge, asking all students and staff to attempt to read 40 books, or challenge themselves in some fashion i.e. trying a new genre, or Reading Without Walls

I have read many professional books since I started school, and will list a few of those:

1) Book Love
2) Falling in Love with Close Reading
3) Book Banning in 21st- Century America
4) Learning Personalized: The Evolution of the Contemporary Classroom

I have also read some YA titles that were wonderful including:

5) Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 2 The Hammer of Thor (first book in series was excellent as well).
6) Pax
7) 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East
8) Stars Above
9) Heartless (Stars Above is a short story collection dealing with the Lunar Chronicles, and Heartless is a stand alone at this point by Marissa Meyer: I blogged about Cinder and the Lunar Chronicles earlier)
10) I am Princess X
11) Shadow Magic
12) The Thing about Jelly Fish
13) Ambassador by William Alexander
14) Ghost by Jason Reynolds
15) Tiger Rising

And I read a few random adult books, including these:

16) Razor Girl
17) Pensionless: The 10-Step Solution for a Stress -Free Retirement
18) The Trespasser by Tana Frency
19) The Bookshop on the Corner
20) The Daily Show an Oral History

I am not going back and writing reviews of these first 20 (however they are mentioned because I thought they were good), and I am not including book titles that aren't coming to mind, or are coming to mind but not worthy of mention (in my opinion).   The final 20 (or more) books that I read this school year, I will write up a review and post it here.

The first is appropriately titled, The Reader by Traci Chee
The review should appear in a few hours.

Theme = Imagination

I am once again blown away by Selznick whose latest novel is The Marvels. I loved both Wonderstruck and of course Hugo, so eagerly looked forward to reading this one as well. The artwork is spot on again; riveting, beautiful and tells an engaging story. The narrative adds to it nicely, and while many write that it was chunky or not as well written as the previous two, I was still drawn in. I thought the mystery was handled well, and I loved the ending.

Some are stipulating that the "theme" of the book is homosexuality, and that makes me laugh out loud. That isn't the theme at all. The theme in this excellent novel, is imagination. How imagination, story telling, and fantasy can assist us all in troubling times. How imagination can bond people together, whether in a romantic love, or a familial one, or when alone and troubled.

Even the scenes of Frankie chasing the dog, and trying to come up with the perfect name, adds to that theme, the theme of imagination.

While some teachers are expressing the view that they can't have this on their classroom shelves, I fully disagree. Much of the supposed troubling aspects are subtle, and there is so much more in the novel that the children will hone in on. The teacher can guide the student in how the novel is structured, point out that the theme is imagination (if they don't pick up on that), or not. In addition books on classroom library shelves aren't similar to books being read as class novels, so the fear that parents will be upset is pretty much a moot point. Yes, HIV is mentioned, yes romance and love between men is subtly addressed but gosh, if you can't realize that the points being made deal with imagination, accepting and helping others (as Albert does with the young man who was destined for possible prison, until he saw Marcus' strengths), and discovering yourself as an individual within and separate from your family, then I just don't know what to say.

Further, kids are certainly hearing about homosexuality since many states have finally made the decision to allow marriages to take place; I am simply blown away by folks who are "shocked" that love is part of a children's book.  
In addition, I am betting there is at least one child in those classrooms with similar family structures, that would really enjoy this book. This book is wonderful, and I highly recommend it. I too am a teacher and will include it in my classroom library.

Undertow: Draws you in, and won't let go.

I absolutely can't wait for the second in this series! Undertow by Michael Buckley was wonderful. Great character development, interesting plot, great themes, just truly a wonderful, wonderful read.   I highly recommend this novel..  Teens and adults alike will get so much out of this novel, as they ponder similarities with issues in our world.

A new species, Alpha, emerge from the water and attempts are made to integrate with humans.  Lyric discovers she is half-Alpha, and keeps this secret as long as she can.  She is forced to befriend the prince of the Alpha, and naturally romantic feelings start, which complicates her life even further.

Issues of loyalty, empathy, cultural differences, family love, war and peace, all lead up to an exciting conclusion in book one.

This book will be available on May 5th, and I for one and am already counting the days until the second one comes out.

Finished the series

I finished Cuba Straits over spring break.  I enjoyed it, primarily because I am interested in Cuba and hope to visit one day.  I enjoyed the fact that Tomlinson played a large role, and I found the plot quite interesting..especially how various characters were all tied into it.

I prefer Ford's first person narratives to the 3rd person (which was used in the first couple of books in the series), but I quickly got over that. 

In this and in one other book, characters state Fidel is dead, and as far as I know he isn't...but I am sure  RWW knows more than his readers do :-). 

I have read this entire series, starting in December, 2014 when I had the pleasure of visiting Sanibel.  I enjoyed all of the books, some quite intensely due to the character development, historical information, life on the islands, Ford's home and lab.  A couple I didn't care for as much, as stated in an earlier post, but I am addicted to those characters. So much so that I am finally going to start reading other works, until Doc Ford's 23rd story line is written by the wonderful Randy Wayne White.

Didn't win

I entered a contest to win a visit to Sanibel to have dinner with Randy Wayne White..it was a long shot, and I didn't win..but I entered because this series is so compelling

I am now on book 20, Night Moves There are only two books so far I didn't care for much. One was Hunter's Moon, because there wasn't enough of Tomlinson in it. The other is Chasing Midnight; while it had a bit more of Tomlinson in it, it wasn't a Tomlinson I recognized much.

In those two books I missed the fishing guides, and other characters in the most recent books, as well as the historical references, and marine life information.  In addition Doc Ford was a little more in touch with his clandestine side to the detriment of his more introspective side, but gosh...I remain a fan and am hooked by the plots, Doc Ford and Tomlinson.  Night Vision was a bit weak in some respects as well, but I was engaged by the main character's view point in that one, and the information regarding immigrants, migrant workers, and Mayan descendents.  2-3 books not hitting a home run with me, out of 22, isn't bad at all.  I mean truly, the others' home runs were totally out of the ball park. The majority of his narratives are just wonderfully written.


His latest book arrives today, and I have to finish Night Moves and, Bone Deep prior to starting Cuba Straits.

I still can't believe I became so hooked on this series, that I have ignored other authors I love....but what can I say, they are compelling.

Book Ten

I did manage to read a book in between, but have continued with my zeal for the Doc Ford series.  I am a third of the way through Everglades.

It is odd for me to continue reading a series; so many putter out and dismay me.  Many authors end up having their characters do things totally out of character, therefore I completely stop reading anything by them. (prime example, the Scarpetta series by Cornwell...she committed that unforgivable sin, and the characters that she didn't have doing unfathomable things she flatlined...they stopped developing).

Hence, the reason the Doc Ford series continues to draw me in: Character development.  Characters staying true to themselves (in the midst of the reader discovering more about them), and plots that propel the characters into situations that don't have them straying from their central "being."

I love as well the interplay between Tomlinson and Doc Ford; it would be hard for anyone to pull off developing these two wildly differing people, yet White manages to do so.

I root for both characters, and root even more for their friendship. 

The next four books in the series are due to arrive today; it certainly appears as if I will read through the series. Cuba Straits comes out in March.  I have the others to read while I wait for that one.  I actually entered a contest via Goodreads to win a copy of his latest, but since I never post anything to Goodreads, I am sure I won't win that.  I entered through Facebook, after discovering he has an author page. He (or whomever runs his author's page) responded to a question I had about his Hannah Smith series...I truly didn't expect a response, so that was an added touch that makes me respect him even more.  As an aside, I did try that series, and it didn't grab me like Doc Ford did.

Enough of my rambling; onto reading Everglades! 

Truly, if you haven't picked up this series...do so now...only other comparison I can make, is with the Harry Potter series! 

Travel Reading

I love finding books set in the places I have traveled to. Reading The Perfect Storm while in the Rockport/Gloucester area about 15 years ago started me on this quest, to find books set in my destination, to read while there. I have enjoyed reading books set in Slovenia, Toronto, and Seattle...but none caused me to write about, or recommend anything particular. As we planned our trip to Florida, I looked for the Doc Ford series by Randy Wayne White.  I picked up the first one Sanibel Flats at the library, the day before we left for Sanibel, Florida.

I read the second The Heat Islands (and discovered I had read it years ago; it was THE book that put Sanibel on the travel radar for me, only getting to visit now!). I bought it at Doc Fords restaurant, which is on Sanibel, and was just a couple of miles from the cottage we stayed in. I ordered books 3-7 on Amazon, and just finished Captiva, which is the fourth book (in I believe 21 at this point).


I vowed after reading each of the four thus far, that I would take a break and read something else in between, but each is so compelling, it has me reaching for the next book, without reading something else in one of my many piles of "to read" next books.

Thus, I am starting North of Havana, leaving piles of other reading material behind.  I can't imagine reading all 21 before venturing into other genres/other writers, but who knows?

It is interesting to me that the first 3 were written in 3rd person, and Captiva switched to first person.  White pulls this off beautifully, and I truly enjoyed the switch...I liked the 3rd person narratives, but enjoy hearing Ford's voice come through in such a compelling manner.

If you like Carl Hiaasen, you will enjoy this series.  In reality it is probably more Hiaasen mixed with perhaps John MacDonald...basically, if you enjoy mysteries, interesting locales, great character development, and adventure thrown in for good measure (while also dealing with local politics and environmental issues), then you too might want to check out this series.  Just be prepared, because you won't be able to stop with just one.

Walled Cities

 I am recommending The Walled City by Ryan Graudin

This book pulled me in, and kept me interested throughout.  I enjoyed the premise, and was astounded to learn it was based on the real walled city in Hong Kong.

 In this novel 3 young kids are living in the walled city, which isn't identified as being part of Hong Kong since this isn't historical fiction.  They are all dealing with a crime boss; one is in a brothel, her sister is trying to save her, and a young boy is trying to get the crime boss arrested.  The chapters alternate via their respective points of view.

The three main characters were all interesting, though at one point I thought I was reading from one character's point of view and realized a second later it was the sister.  It seems this might be a nice tie in with Empire of Sin.  I am hoping to read that soon, and will post later if they work well together.  Perhaps students can read the YA title by Graudin, and those interested in the concept of holed off areas, can delve into Krist's non-fiction account of New Orleans. (in addition perhaps to non-fiction accounts of Hong Kong's Walled City).

Metaphorical

I do recommend reading Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer.  I enjoyed the premise of a boarding school with a special topics in English class....and the students and teacher that might participate in one like this.

Reviews on Amazon show that some people dislike the ending, but it truly didn't bug me in the least.

It deals metaphorically with grief, trauma, loss....life...in a perfectly realized story.

I enjoyed the character's, though at time's I felt DJ's was a bit contrived...and at times I thought she would end up being invited somehow to the special topics class.

I thought each of the other scenarios depicted, each of the trauma's suffered by the characters in the special topics class were fairly well done.  I can imagine a kid like Griffin reacting the way he did...denial, numb, stunted etc.

Sierra's was perfectly depicted, and her actions in the end made sense, whereas it wouldn't have made sense for Jam to do the same...the process in Jam's decision making did make sense (while writing her last journal entry), given the actual circumstances of her reason's for being at the school.

Marc and Casey were also developed well, in the limited sense of not expanding their stories...we can picture those families; divorce, and families in denial about alcoholism until a terrible event occurs etc...

Trauma can be relative, and thus when we learn Jam's truth we need to keep that in mind. As I said, the ending doesn't bug me; it actually is fitting in the human/teen world, where sometimes we wonder why a kid with seemingly everything is depressed...words matter is one of the novel's premises, and words truly mattered to Jam.....what was said (or not said) by Reeve  (and Dana ) etc...breakdown's happen that don't make sense to those outside of the person's story. 

This is my second Wolizer book (the other being The Fingertips Duncan Dorfman) and I will now stray into her non-YA titles, since I have truly enjoyed the writing in the books I have read.

Little Brother's cousin

The Silence of the Six, by E. C Myers will surely intrigue many young and old adults alike.

Social media, government, hacking, spying and well characterized teenagers make this a very enjoyable read. It was quite suspenseful as the main character, Max tries to solve the mystery of his friend's sudden death.

Fans of Cory Doctorow will love the book; it is a slightly easier read than Little Brother, but highly entertaining and yes, thought provoking.

Double your Fun

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld was a wonderful novel.  It is the story of a novelist's debut novel, and her experiences in the publishing world in NYC; in addition, her debut novel is included. So, unlike some reviewers who state this novel is told from alternating perspectives, it is actually two novels in one.

I was engaged in both novels; both had engaging characters, interesting plot lines, and were well developed.

I think all YA lovers, and budding authors should read this novel.

3rd in series is great

I just finished Don't Talk to Strangers by Amanda Kyle Williams.
This is the third in her series, and I just loved it.  I love the main character, Keye Street; her back story, her current story, the dialog, thoughts etc all ring true.

All of the characters are well developed, and the recurring ones continue to grow.  The plot was handled well, the red herrings were nicely played out, and the feeling of the small town this one was set in was believable.

If you are looking for a new detective/mystery series, check this one out.